Nimbus: The Smartest Amp Ever Made

Being a musician today requires too much gear. Pedals, amps, loopers, audio interfaces, mixers, and power supplies all add up to a complicated, expensive, and bulky setup. Practice at home? You need Bluetooth speakers or an aux-in amp. Recording? You need an interface, cables, and software. Gigging? You’re dragging amps, pedals, and more gear than you’d like. Competitors like Spark, Katana, and Mustang tried to simplify things, but they lock you into factory sounds and closed systems that can’t evolve with you. In some cases, like Lava Studio, they charge you twice as much for basic features like a single quarter-inch input and limited power. Nimbus is a music studio in a box. It's your amp, interface, speaker, interface, looper, pedalboard, cabinet, mixer, and more. A powerful 100W stereo amp. Two combo XLR + quarter inch instrument inputs. A USB audio interface for your DAW. A looper for building songs live. Stereo Bluetooth audio streaming. Dual quarter-inch line-outs for larger gigs. Full MIDI support for live control. A full plugin host with Chaos Audio, 3rd party, and even user-made effects. 1/4"-20 threaded hole on the bottom for mounting onto speaker stands. And it all fits into a lightweight amp you can carry with one hand. Inside Nimbus is a 1GHz ARM Cortex processor running on a real-time Linux OS. 5x more powerful than Spark’s DSP chip. Handles multiple effects and amp models at once. Sub-6ms latency means no noticeable delay when playing. 16GB storage for amp models, IRs, and plugin data. Nimbus is the first instrument amp built with the power of a computer inside. We partnered with PowerBass, a respected speaker manufacturer, to equip Nimbus with dual custom 4" speakers and dedicated tweeters. 100W RMS stereo output. 20Hz–20kHz frequency range for full clarity. Louder, cleaner, and more balanced than Spark, Katana, or Mustang. The result? Nimbus sounds like a premium studio monitor system built directly into your amp. Nimbus comes alive when paired with the Chaos Audio mobile app. Whether you’re dialing in tones at home or tweaking presets on stage, the app makes it fast and intuitive. Fully customizable pedalboard: Build your signal chain in seconds. Add, remove, or reorder effects as if you’re wiring a real board. Tone Shop integration: Download new Chaos Audio, third-party, and user-created plugins directly from the in-app marketplace. Cross-device sync: Any plugin you buy works instantly on Nimbus, Stratus, and your desktop DAW. Preset management: Save, name, and organize your favorite tones. Assign them to footswitches or MIDI controllers. Bluetooth control: Adjust settings wirelessly while sitting across the room, no cables required. Closed systems limit creativity. Nimbus is open by design. Chaos Audio plugins included at launch. 3rd party plugins from developers like ChowDSP, Shnobel Tone, and Manic FX. User-contributed plugins you can create yourself with FAUST or C++. Impulse Response loading: Load IRs at 1024 sample length. Neural amp model support: Load your own NAM A2 captures. Nimbus doesn’t just keep up with the future, it lets the community shape it. Nimbus is equipped with more I/O than any competitor. 2 x XLR + 1/4” combo inputs (mic + guitar simultaneously). 2 x TS line outs (L/R or dual mono). Headphone out (stereo) + AUX in (stereo). USB-C 2-in/2-out audio interface for Mac & PC. USB-A for MIDI controllers or device charging. Second USB-C port for software updates. Bluetooth 5.0 audio streaming + BLE control. Wi-Fi, included and may be unlocked post-launch via OTA. Nimbus balances hands-on control with full app integration. Multiknob for fast scrolling and adjustments. 7 RGB LEDs to indicate presets and signal status. Mobile app (Bluetooth) for full control of effects chains. MIDI input support for live switching and looping. Built-in 5-minute looper for practice and songwriting. Nimbus is the only 100W smart amp with built-in, open-source machine learning amp modeling. Use Neural Amp Modeler and TONE3000, a free AI amp model loader, to capture real amps and play them inside Nimbus. Save your own tones or download others shared by the community. Out of the box, Nimbus will come loaded with a full suite of Chaos Audio effects and amps at no extra cost: 20+ distortions, delays, reverbs, modulation, compressors, EQs. 25+ Chaos Audio amp models with matching cabinet sims. 45+ free effects and amps to cover every genre and style. Practice: Stream backing tracks via Bluetooth, loop, jam, and experiment. Perform: Mic + guitar simultaneously, controlled by MIDI footswitches. Record: Use Nimbus as a 2-in/2-out USB-C audio interface with zero extra gear. Experiment: Load new plugins, IRs, and amp models. @_jake_dickinson_on Instagram, pictured upper right $100K: Official Nimbus carrying case with shoulder strap. - UNLOCKED! $500K: Custom PowerBass speakers angled 15º outward for wider stereo spread. $1M: External battery pack add-on for outlet-free gigs. Q4 2026: Mass production commences Q1 2027: Nimbus begins shipping to all backers! We’ve done this before. In 2022, our first project Stratus raised $130K+ on Kickstarter and shipped 2,200+ units worldwide. Nimbus is built on everything we learned, and on feedback from our earliest customers. $25 flat rate for USA deliveries. $80 flat rate for international deliveries. International backers are responsible for duties and taxes on delivery. Shipping will be charged post-campaign, and if we find cheaper shipping options, we will pass those savings onto you! Nimbus includes a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects starting from delivery. Normal wear and tear, damage from misuse, or unauthorized modification are not covered under the standard warranty. When will Nimbus ship? We aim to begin shipping in Q1 2027, Q2 2027 at the latest. How much is shipping for Nimbus? $25 anywhere in the USA. International shipping is a flat $80 (duties/taxes not included). What kind of speakers does Nimbus have? Two custom 4" speakers with dedicated tweeters for maximum clarity and deep bass, each angled out by 15º for maximum stereo spread. What is the wattage of Nimbus? 100W stereo. Does Nimbus have a built-in battery? No, Nimbus is powered via an included power supply. Does Nimbus function as an audio interface? Yes! Nimbus works as a 2-in / 2-out 44.1kHz USB-C audio interface for Mac and Windows. Does Nimbus work with MIDI controllers? Yes! Nimbus has full MIDI support over USB-A and works with any standard MIDI controller. Does Nimbus work well with different instruments? Yes! Nimbus is designed for electric, acoustic, and bass guitars, keyboards, and vocals. How many effects and amps does Nimbus come with? Nimbus comes with 20+ effects and 300,000+ amp models at no extra cost! Does Nimbus support IR loading and amp modelers like NAM? Yes! Nimbus supports 1024-sample IRs and allows you to load NAM A2 models for maximum versatility. How do I develop for Nimbus? Visit our Developer Portal for resources on building plugins for Nimbus: https://chaosaudio.com/pages/developer-portal How does Nimbus compare to Lava Studio? Nimbus is 100W instead of 40W, has 20% more processing power, larger 4" speakers with tweeters, two combo XLR + 1/4" inputs, full MIDI support, and an open platform for third-party effects. It’s more gig-ready and nearly half the price. What is Nimbus' warranty? Nimbus includes a 1-year warranty covering manufacturing defects (does not cover accidental or unauthorized damage). What is the Nimbus (and other add-ons) return policy? Because of the significant discount we’re offering backers on Kickstarter, we do not accept returns from customers who simply decide they no longer want the product. That said, every Nimbus will arrive in fully functional condition. If there is ever an issue with your unit, we will make it right—you can be confident we’re not in the business of scamming anyone. Can I get a refund after pledging? Kickstarter pledges fund production and become final once the campaign ends. Because funds go directly toward manufacturing and fulfillment, we cannot offer refunds after the campaign closes. If your reward arrives damaged or defective, we’ll repair or replace it under our warranty. Refunds are not available for changes of mind or personal circumstances. What is Kickstarter? Kickstarter is a launchpad for creators to raise funds for the initial production of their invention. Backers (that's you!) can support creators (that's us!) by pre-ordering their product(s) at a discounted price. When is my money collected? Your money will be collected only after the project ends on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. If the project is cancelled for any reason, you won't be charged. What payment methods can I use? You can use any debit or credit card associated with Visa, Mastercard or American Express, as well as Discover and JCB cards. Kickstarter does not accept payments with PayPal. Why Chaos Audio? We are a repeat and trusted Kickstarter creator. We've raised over $130k and have more than 1,500 happy customers to show for it! Full Specifications 🔢 Core Specs Processor: ARM Cortex @ 1GHz Operating System: Xenomai Linux OS Memory & Storage: 512MB RAM, 16GB onboard storage Plugin Format Support: Chaos Audio native format (cross-compatible with Stratus and desktop) Audio System Power Output: 100W RMS stereo Speakers: Dual custom 4" full-range speakers with dedicated tweeters, each angled 15º outward for a wide stereo spread Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz Looper: Built-in, 5-minute recording time Audio Interface: 2-in / 2-out USB-C, 24-bit / 44.1kHz, Mac & PC compatible Latency: Sub-6ms audio processing (real-time plugin engine) Impulse Response Support: Yes, load custom IRs directly into device Neural Amp Modeling Support: Yes, load Neural Amp Modeler A2-Lite natively (no conversion) Inputs & Outputs Top Input: XLR + 1/4" combo input (mic, synth, guitar, etc.) Rear Input: XLR + 1/4" combo input (mic, synth, second guitar, etc.) Line Outputs: Dual 1/4" TS line outs (L/R or dual mono) Headphone Output: 3.5mm (1/8") stereo Aux Input: 3.5mm (1/8") stereo Pedal Power Output: 9V center-negative, 2A, for powering external pedals USB-C: Audio interface + power/data USB-A: MIDI control, storage, or charging connected devices Second USB-C: Device port (for software updates or file transfer) Wireless Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth Low Energy for control Bluetooth Audio for streaming Wi-Fi Included (disabled by default, may be enabled post-launch via OTA update) Control & Integration Mobile App: Full effect chain control via Bluetooth MIDI: Full MIDI input support over USB-A for live performance, switching, looping Developer Support: Build and load plugins in FAUST, C++, and other supported formats at build.chaosaudio.com AI Amp Loading: Create and load your own amp models with machine learning thanks to the free NAM integration. Impulse Response Loading: Load your own IR files onto Nimbus at 1024 sample length. You can store unlimited IR files in the app for use in presets. Chassis & Design Construction: Durable, acoustically-tuned MDF shell (wrapped in Tolex) Speakers Mounted: Front-facing stereo output Display & Interface: Multiknob, Music Volume, Input 1 Volume, Input 2 Volume, and 7 addressable preset RGB LEDs Carrying Handle: Leather strap, for easy one-handed carrying Footprint: Approx. 14" W × 8.5" H × 7" D (35cm W x 22cm H x 18cm D). Subject to final enclosure tuning. Weight: Targeting ~12lbs (5.4kg). Light enough to carry easily! @bitemarkstheband on Instagram @ebarry_ onInstagram Special Thanks to: Jacob Dickinson - Pro Guitarist and Guitarist at Bethlehem Church in GA - Kickstarter Video and Demos - @_jake_dickinson_ on Instagram Bite Marks - All Girl/Enby Rock Band based in North Florida - Kickstarter Video - @bitemarkstheband on Instagram Emerson Barry - FSU Alum and Pro Guitarist - Kickstarter Video - @ebarry_ onInstagram